Teaching shapes and colors is one thing. Real life skills is entirely another - like, getting a job. Such an essential for a 4 or 5 year old. ;-)

Actually, my philosophy has always been that start talking to children about the grown-up world as soon as possible. For one thing it is so fun to listen to their impressions of the world, and for another to be able to explain things to them and see their faces light up as they feel more included in what is going on around them.

"How to Get a Job by Me the Boss" was both all in one. Written from the perspective of a little girl trying to teach her baby brother all about how to get a job in any industry. Filled with many child-like misconceptions, this book for children will not only give the adult some laughs, but will serve as a great teaching tool to explain things to your preschooler or kindegartner who is curious.

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There are a lot of things that I want to teach my children. ABC's, how to tie their shoes, which color is blue. But then there are the really important things: integrity, diligence, perseverance, love, faithfulness, and hope. These things are much harder to teach. And much harder to write about in a meaningful way. Children's books often avoid these subjects, or state them outright, instead of telling rich and magical stories that bring those lessons directly to a child's heart.

"Good Fortune in a Wrapping Cloth" by Joan Schoettler was one book that was able to do just that. It tells the story of a little girl, separated from her mother through a set of circumstances beyond her control. Ji-su is determined to be with her mother again. The only way to do so is to become such a good seamstress that she is invited to come to the palace to work just like her mother was. She must try, try, and try again. Despite the setbacks she perseveres. And in the end is successful as a result of her hard work and faithful heart.

The illustrations in this book are just as exquisite as the writing, with an artistry that is rarely seen in children's picture books. This book may be for children, but older children, and even adults, will enjoy reading this story to its conclusion.

Development Activities

Book for Children Ages: 4 years old and older

Family Reading Time: This is a perfect book to read as a whole family, or for older children to read to younger ones. Your little kids will love the pictures and the story, while the older ones will be able to have more in depth conversations about the theme of the story and the historical and cultural background.

Reading Tips:

Take time to talk about the details in the illustrations and how they help tell the story.

Research shows that one of the best ways to help our children succeed is to praise them for effort rather than talent (e.g. "you kept trying until you got it right, good job" rather than "you are so smart!"). This story is a perfect opportunity to start teaching the benefit of effort, and that anyone who is excellent at anything has to practice and work at it for a long time.

Related Discussion Questions:

Why did Ji-Su's mother have to go away? Why do you think Ji-Su could not go with her?

What made Ji-Su keep working so hard, even when it didn't go quite as she wanted?

How do you think Ji-Su felt when she finally got to see her mother again?

What was your favorite part of the story? Why?

What was the hardest thing you ever had to do? How did you do it?

What do you really think brought Ji-Su goo fortune? Was it the wrapping cloth?

Activities for Kids:

Create your own bogagi by cutting and sewing pieces of cloth together into a pattern. For younger children, use colored paper instead and glue them as a collage onto a background piece. You can help your children develop find motor skills by letting them cut out their own shapes from the paper. Artistic skill is also used as they piece those together on the background. Allow them to experiment and do it their way - even if that means having some pieces hang over the edge or not fully filling the space.

Is there someone that your child misses? Perhaps a grandparent or far away friend. Make them a card or picture and send it to let them know you are thinking about them.

How many different things can you think of that take skill and practice to learn? Perhaps look through magazines together and cut out pictures of examples and make your own book. On on side glue the magazine picture, and on the other write what the picture is showing and some of the things that person had to do to get good at that thing.

Look at a map or globe and find Korea. Now find where you live. Do you live far from or close to Korea? Do you know anyone from there or who has visited there?

Cultural Diversity: This picture book for children is an historical fiction set in Korea during the Joseon Dynasty (sometime between the fourteenth and nineteenth century). As such it represents both the cultural/ethnic isolation, as well as the religious customs of that time and place.

Children's Book Review Rating: 5 Stars - Beautiful Book*

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*A free copy of this book was given to Beautiful Books for Children for review purposes. Our commitment to our readers and authors is to always give an honest review, even when a review copy is provided. No other compensation was provided for this review.

Hershel wants to help his mother so much. But there is only one problem - he is blind. When he has a dream one night about making beautiful cookies to sell during Purim, his mother tells him there is just no way he could do it. But when she falls asleep, too tired to work anymore with a large lump of dough still waiting to be made into hamantashen, Hershel decides to follow his heart. When his mother awakes, she finds the most intricate cookies ever made - and they sell out at the market that day! What is more, the baker even tells Hershel that perhaps he could come and work at the bakery some day.

"Cakes and Miracles : A Purim Tale" by Barbara Diamond Goldin is a beautiful book for children and parents too. While families who celebrate Purim will enjoy the story, so will everyone else. It is a book about empowerment, overcoming adversity, believing in yourself, and the value of every person.Jaime Zollars' illustrations just add to the magic of the book, with pictures that manage to be both realistic and imaginative at the same time.This book will be one we read not only during Purim, but all year long.

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Every child at some point in time has trouble expressing just what they are feeling. Karen Cuthrell's response to this was to create a band of characters called the "The Feeling Friends " who kids can feel comfortable interacting with when they need to get their feelings out in a constructive way.

To me the best part of the whole book was a CD in the back that not only reads the story aloud to you, but includes a different song for each of the characters, as well as some instrumental only tracks that will have you and the kids jamming all day. In a lot of ways, I would really consider this a CD that includes a book rather than the other way around. Each of my kids has their favorite song, and we love to just dance and sing a long and be silly.

Development Activities

Book for Children Ages: 2 years old to 6 years old

Reading Tips:

Read the book together first, and then listen to it read aloud on the CD.

Come up with your own voices for the characters to help make it more interesting and really get your child engaged with thinking about feelings

Related Discussion Questions:

How do you feel right now?

What things make you feel happy, sad, etc.?

What are some good things to do when you have those feelings?

Activities for Kids:

Draw a picture of the Feeling Friend that shows how you are feeling right now.

Make a chart with lots of different faces showing things like happy, sad, and angry. Practice using it to help your child identify what they are feeling.

Play the music CD and dance!

Have your child make up their own song about feelings and perform it for the rest of the family.

Think about someone you know who might be feeling scared or sad and send them a card to cheer them up.

Cultural Diversity: All the Feeling Friends have feelings, no matter how different they are from one another!

Children's Book Review Rating: 4 Stars*

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“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” ― Dr. SeussWe believe that reading with your children, and then building on that reading by connecting with real world experiences, help children grow to their potential every day! It is a process we call "learning through integrative play." Learn more.